Obscured by Clouds. The rough and ready blog of a cloud benighted biologist and amateur astronomer. Astroblog will cover my interests in astronomy, biology and Life, the Universe and Everything.

Monday, June 22, 2015

Geomagnetic Alert and Possible Aurora 22-23 June 2015

An updated geomagnetic alert has been issued by the Australian IPS for the
22nd-23rd due to an anticipated impact from a Coronal Mass Ejection catching up
with the previously predicted CME. The impact time is uncertain. This could
translate into aurora at any time during the late night time of the 22nd to
early morning 23rd and possibly evening of the 23rd (or disappointingly, during
daylight hours). Aurora, if they flare up tonight, are likely to be seen in
Tasmania, possibly Victoria, and if conditions are favourable in southern WA and
Southern South Australia. There is even a chance they could be seen further
north. However, despite prediction of severe geomagnetic storms there is also a
chance no aurora will occur. Currently a lot of Southern Australia is under
cloud though, however the waxing Moon, if the cloud goes, should not interfere
significantly.

Aurora can occur at any time after nightfall (although
around midnight or just after seems to be common). Dark sky sites have the best
chance of seeing anything, and always allow around 5 minutes for your eyes to
become dark adapted.As always look to the south for shifting red/green
glows, beams have been reported consistently over the last few aurora and a
large green "blob" has been seen.

Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) have been
observed during the past 48 hours which are expected to impact the Earth in
the latter half of the UT day of 22 June. The latter of these CMEs is
expected to have direct impact at Earth and result in major to severe
storm levels.